Motion system device developer New Scale Technologies Inc. received a US patent for its reduced-voltage miniature piezoelectric motor and drive system, the company announced recently. The motor and drive system can operate directly from battery voltage as low as 2.3 VDC. By eliminating the need for boost circuits, the technology reduces system size and component cost while enabling integration into a variety of battery-driven products to move elements such as optical lenses. The system is five times smaller than commercial electromagnetic linear motor systems and uses 40 percent less power, the company says. The reduced-voltage Squiggle micromotor and drive application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) are displayed by Dr. Daniele Piazza, co-inventor with Qin Xu and David Henderson of the newly patented technology. (Image: New Scale Technologies) US patent No. 8,217,553 was issued July 10, 2012, to inventors Qin Xu, David Henderson and Daniele Piazza. It is the company’s seventh patent since 2002 for such technology. The new system uses proprietary Squiggle piezo motor design, replacing the original Squiggle motor’s monolithic piezoelectric elements with advanced multilayer piezoelectric elements from TDK-EPC of Munich to operate at a reduced voltage. Its drive circuit was developed in partnership with ams AG of Unterpremstaetten, Austria, to increase motor efficiency over a range of operating conditions and to refine motor control capabilities. For more information, visit: www.newscaletech.com